WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3105/98 by Karin RIIS-JØRGENSEN to the Commission. Environmental characteristics of PVC in the light of proposed Council Directive COM(97)358
Date: 1998-10-08
Institutions: European Parliament, RIIS-JOERGENSEN
Subjects: combustion gases, environmental policy, motor vehicle, plastics, waste incineration, waste management, waste recycling

21.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 142/85

Technical solutions, such as those mentioned above, exist for the storage of spent fuel. The closure of the
high flux reactor (HFR) would have dramatic consequences on the supply of radiopharmaceuticals to
hospitals and medical centres, because the HFR production covers more than 50 % of Community needs.
Of course, the closure of the HFR would also mean the termination of the boron neutron capture therapy
project.

(1999/C 142/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3105/98

by Karin Riis-Jørgensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Environmental characteristics of PVC in the light of proposed Council Directive COM(97) 358

In the light of the proposed Council Directive COM(97) 358 on end-of-life vehicles, will the Commission
explain how specifically it has ensured that the directive is based on the most recent data and studies?

This applies in particular to the statement in the proposal that 1 kg of PVC waste generates between 2 and
5 kgs of flue gas residues. It has come to light in Denmark that the Danish Environment Agency made a
mistake in its calculations concerning the volume of flue gas residues. This is the study referred to by the
Commission in its answer to Written Question P-1524/98 (1).

This being so, can it therefore state specifically what figures have been taken as the basis for its statement
about flue gas residues in relation to the proposed Council Directive COM(97) 358?

Will it also explain whether it is absolutely definite that overall environmental pollution will be reduced by
replacing PVC with any other material? For example, a car’s energy consumption is increased by
replacing PVC with a heavier material.

(1) OJ C 31, 5.2.1999, p. 51.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 1998)

Will the Honourable Member please refer to the answer given by the Commission to her written question
E-1524/98 (1) as regards the general approach and the work in progress concerning the management of
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste.

More particularly as regards PVC incineration a study of the quantity and harmfulness of PVC
incineration residues is under way, since PVC is the only plastic whose incineration generates hydro-
chloric acid. That study will constitute one aspect of the analysis in the Danish study mentioned by the
Honourable Member.

The study covers all types of incinerator in use within the Community. The neutralisation taking place
during the dry treatment of incinerator flue gases causes highly soluble residues to be formed. These are
classified as hazardous − particularly because of calcium chloride contaminated by heavy metals. Given
the requirements regarding incinerator emissions the incineration of PVC involving dry treatment
generates the same quantity of residues. The study in progress should yield precise data as regards the
quantity and level of harmfulness of the residues produced by all types of incinerator used in dry, wet,
semi-wet or semi-dry flue-gas treatment methods.

The replacement of PVC in vehicles mentioned by the Honourable Member would not necessarily cause a
considerable increase in vehicle weights since PVC may be replaced by other plastics.

(1) OJ C 31, 5.2.1999, p. 51.